The Mendocino Film Festival has announced that Lori Donnelly has assumed the role of Program Director for 2016.

As Program Director, she will oversee the selection of films and special programs for the Eleventh Annual Mendocino Film Festival, May 27-29 and June 2-5, 2016.

Donnelly arrives in Mendocino on January 6. The public will have the opportunity to meet her during the Festival’s annual Valentine’s Day Weekend screening on Saturday, February 13, and learn more about her vision for the 2016 Mendocino Film Festival.

Fresh from the Dryden Theatre, a 530-seat repertory cinema housed in the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York, Donnelly brings her formidable experience and unique perspective to the 2016 Mendocino Film Festival.

“We’re thrilled to have someone as dedicated, talented, and experienced as Lori on our team,” says Michael Fox, Executive Director of the Mendocino Film Festival. “With her help, we’re looking forward to making 2016 our best year yet.”

Prior to her work at the George Eastman Museum, Donnelly served as associate programmer at AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. In those positions, she screened retrospectives and films from around the world. She also welcomed special guests like David Lynch, who came to AFI with Inland Empire, and “the Pope of Pop Cinema,” Director/Producer Roger Corman, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the George Eastman Museum.Donnelly says she looks forward to maintaining the Mendocino Film Festival’s tradition of offering award-winning film in an unforgettable destination while adding her own flair to the program.

“One of my ambitions is to continue MFF’s tradition of quality presentation and exhibition, with a keen eye towards current trends in theatrical distribution,” says Donnelly. She plans to use these developments to bring the best in independent and international cinema to Mendocino as part of the 2016 Mendocino Film Festival.

As for her other goals, Donnelly mentions that she intends to enjoy Mendocino to the fullest. This will be her first time in the region, but Mendocino’s reputation precedes it “as a close-knit arts community, not to mention the beautiful scenery and the legendary coastline.”

And the Festival plans to demonstrate the hospitality for which it has become so famous. “Everyone is eager to meet her,” agrees Fox. “We’re excited to learn from Lori and show her all that Mendocino has to offer.”

About the Mendocino Film Festival:
The Mendocino Film Festival has established a reputation for presenting award-winning international and independent films year after year. Over the years, the Mendocino Film Festival has become renowned on the festival circuit, drawing filmmakers and attendees from around the world while maintaining its commitment to the local community. Featuring special events, filmmaker Q&As, and panels, the program offers the unique opportunity to meet filmmakers and film aficionados in an intimate setting while enjoying the striking natural beauty of Mendocino, which has inspired generations of artists.

The Eleventh Annual Mendocino Film Festival will take place May 27-29 & June 2-5, 2016. For more information, please visit www.mendocinofilmfestival.org.